USA Gymnastics names 2009 U.S. Acrobatic National Team

DALLAS, Texas, Aug. 15, 2009 – USA Gymnastics named the U.S. Acrobatic National Team following the 2009 Visa Championships at the Dallas (Texas) Convention Center.

 The pair and group with the highest cumulative score per event at the Visa Championships automatically earned a spot on the acrobatic national team.

U.S. Senior Acrobatic National Team

Mixed Pair

Sienna Martinez, Riverside, Calif., Ryan Ward, Corona, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy

Kristin Allen, Livermore, Calif., Michael Rodrigues, Livermore, Calif./West Coast Training Center

Nicole Faubert, Danville, Calif., Brian Kincher, Livermore, Calif./West Coast Training Center

Women’s Group

Kailey Maurer, Fontana, Calif., Holli Morris, Beaumont, Calif., Crystal Johnston, Riverside, Calif./Empire

U.S. Junior Acrobatic National Team

11-16 Women’s Pair

Mariah Cockshell, Lee’s Summit, Mo., Kennedy Swanson, Blue Springs, Mo./Acro Explosion

Maren Merwarth and Taylor Mosher, San Antonio, Texas/Browns Gymnastics

BreeAnna Saur and Harley-Breean Elliott, Lawson, Mo./Northwest Gymnastics

11-16 Women’s Group

Jesse Kelly, San Jose, Calif., Alyssa Liardon, Morgan Hill, Calif., Brooke Rhoades, San Jose, Calif./Aerial Tumbling & AcroGymnastics

Kendall Meyer, Silver Spring, Md., Erica Prestipino, Rockville, Md., Mackenzie Meyer, Silver Spring, Md./Xtreme Acro

Junior 12-19 Mixed Pair

Eirian Smith, San Jose, Calif., Jake Kanavel, San Jose, Calif./Aerial Tumbling & AcroGymnastics

Kiley Boynton, Riverside, Calif., Ryan Smethers, Mira Loma, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy

Junior 12-19 Women’s Group

Alexa Vitale, San Jose, Calif., Kelly Phillips, San Jose, Calif., Jessica Picone, San Jose, Calif./Aerial Tumbling & AcroGymnastics

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States.  Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport.  Its disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics.  For more complete information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org.